Feeler mechanism for looms



June 30, N25.- G. H. WILLARD FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS eetS-ShGBt l Filed Dec: 27, 1924 (/W W14 4TTOfF/V/f7 June 30, E925,

1,544,523 G. H. WILLARD FEELER MECHANISMQ'FOR LOOMS Filed Dec: 27, 1924 -3 Sheec-S'Sheet z June 30, 1925 G. WILLARD FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec, 27. 1924 Shets-Sheet ononon H. WILLARD, or nominate, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 1'0 omen co 1,544,523 PATEN OFFICE,

PGRATIO'N, OF HO'PEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Fenian MECHANISM non 13001018.:

Application filed December 27, 1924. Serial No. 758,442.

To all whom it may concern;

- Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WILLARD. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hopcdale. in the county of lVorccster and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feelcr mechanisms for looms and more paiticularl to feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type, wherein the fceler has periods of activity and periods of inactivity during weaving. in feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type the feeler is ordinarily held in an inoperative position during its periods of inactivity and is released at intervals that it may move i'earwaiidly to its feeling position, and. perform its feeling function during its periods of activity. .The recurring contact of the feeler with the filling-during feeler activity is objectionable, especially where the feeler receives upon itthe full ipact of the filling as the lay heats up or the feelei. itself moves backwardly to its full feeling position, and since the feeleronly perfoin'is its functions to elfectthe chgange in loom operation at a critical period or Wllflll the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, even these recurrent contacts of the feeler with the filling as above outlined during the activity of the fcelor become objectionable so long as a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle. 1

An iiiiportantfeature of the. present invention therefore consists in means for releasing the feelcr to its period of activity when the lay is at or is near front position, and in case the feeler such times detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle it thereupon at once places the feeler in its active position. In accordance with the irforniance of its feeling function at filling when the lay is front, and should the color at such times detect a Working supit; of filling in the shuttle, it is returned to 011i. invention, the feeler is released tointervals as the lay nears front position, so, that the feeler contacts lightly with the exhausted.

The invention and novel features and new combination of parts will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view at the feeler side of the loom with some of the loom parts omitted, and showing more particularly features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on' an enlarged scale of a feeler mechanism containing the present invention, some of the parts being shown in section;

c Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the means for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position during its periods of inactivity and freeing it at intervals;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig; 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the feeler mechanisin, some of the parts being broken away to show the parts beyond.

The invention will hereinafter be described in connection with a filling replenishing loom, but the details of the replenishing mechanism are not herein shown because they form no essential part of the present invention. The feeler' is. shown in the present instance asjthat of the inclined side swipe type, but it is to be understood that other forms of feelers may be advantageously employed in connection with the" present invention. l I

The loom frame 1 may be of usual construction and has mounted 'at the front thereof thetransverse or rock shaft 2, as usual, which is mounted in bearings 3, one at each side of the room, and extending up wardly from the rock shaft is an arm 4 having pivoted at 5 a rearwardly extending actuator 6. Pivotally connected to the actuator 6 at 7 is the rearwai'dly extending fingel 8, the rear end portion of which is adapted at times to be engaged by an operating member 9 which may be the cam fol lower or a part operating in connection therewith. The rcarwardly extending arm 8 has a projection 10 which overlies the arm ll. of a bell crank lever pivoted at 12 to a, support 13 conveniently secured to the shipper stand 14 in the present instance at 15. The other arm 16 of the bell crank lever is connected with a transmitter 17 one end of which is connected to a slide 18 mounted in guideways 19 at the rear of the feeler stand 20. The feeler stand may be associated with the loom frame or shipper stand or other support by means of a bolt 21 which passes through a slot 22 formed in the side of the feeler stand.

The feeler 23 is shown as provided with a toothed end portion 2st for engagement with a surface within the shuttle, and the feeler stem 25 extends frontwardly through a bearing 26 and has an end portion 27 eX- tending at an angle to the stem. The hearing 26 is notched at its front end portion, as indicated at 28, so that the feeler may partake of its sideswipe movement along the filling carrier when filling is to be replenished, thereby operatively associating the rearwardly extending arm 8 with the operating member to effect replenishment of filling.

The feeler has a spring 29 which surroundsthe stem of the feeler and bears at one end against the bearing an andat its other end rests against thebridgeor collar 30 secured to the teeler. the construction being such that the spring normally tends to move the 'feeler into its full rearward "feeling position. The parts so far described, with the exception of the bearing 16, may be substantially as shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. 1,309,226, July 8, 1919. In the present instance. the feeler stand 20 is provided with a cover plate 31 which may be conveniently secured to the teeler stand by screws or other fastening means 32. Adjustably connected to the feeler stand is a bracket 33 which may be clamped in ad justed position by means of a bolt 34 which passes through a slot 235 of the. bracket. and in order to adjust the bracket and the parts carried thereby, towards and from the front of the loom, an adjusting screw 36 is provided which is threaded into the feeler stand.

In the present instance, the bracket 33-11215 a laterally extending arm 37 which afliords a convenient support for the means which holds the feeler in its frontward inoperative .osition during its periods of inactivity. guch means is herein shown as-a detent 38 which is pivotally supported by the later ally extending arm 37 and is normally under the influence of a spring tending to move the detent into its feeler holding position;

shownj'the detent 38 is secured to a small roclr'shaft 39 which is mounted in a bearing 1-0 extending laterally from the supporting bracket 37. The shaft 39 has so cured at one end thereof, as shown, a lug 41 masses to which one end of a spring 42 is secured, the other end of the spring being secured at 43 to the bracket 37, the construction be ing such that the spring 42 normally tends to move the detent into holding engagement with the teeler that the latter may be retained in its irontwardl inactive position.

The end portion 44 of the detent is formed with an inclined or wedge surface 45 which is adapted to engage and ride over the end. portion 27 of the feeler stem to withdraw the feeler frontwardly as the detent is rocked upon its pivotal support. The opposite side of the head it of the detent has the reversely inclined surface 46 which may be engaged by the projection 27111 the feeler stem when the feeler is moved from the rearward feeling position to a frontward position, and after the projection 27 has passed the head 44 of the detent. the reversely inclined surface 46 of the detent will drop behind the projection 27 and through the spring 42 cause the feeler tofbe withdrawn further frontwardly beyond the reach of the filling on detecting beats.

It is desirable that suitable stops be pro vided for limiting the pivotal movement of the detent, and to this end the laterally extending arm 37 has a projection le, Fig. 1, which may be formed as part of or be secured to the arm 37, and afford a rest for the base portion 49 of the detent, when the latter is in its full feeler holding position.

The laterally extending arm 37 may also be provided with a stop which overlies'a projection 51 formed as part of or secured to the detent.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler is to be released from its holding means from time to time during weaving, and in the present instance means are "provided in the form of a shezithed wire 52, Fig. 4, which extends into the lug or projection 4-8, the end of the sheathed wire 52 bearing upon the projection 51 extending from the detent, the construction being such that shouldlengthwise movement be imparted to the wire 52, it will lift the detent upwardly to free the feeler, as indicated'in Fig. 3.

. Mounted in the guideway 53, which may be conveniently provided on the cover of the feeler stand, is a hunter 54:, the rear end portion 55 of which is adapted to engage a surface on the lay on each detecting beet, In

the present instance the surface engaged by the hunter consists of the front wall of the shuttle 56 when the latter is in the detecting box, and in the present ,instance the front wall of the shuttle box is provided with the usual opening 57 which registers with a similar opening 58 in the front .wall of the shuttle to permit the end of the feeler to enter the shuttle and feel for the filling.

The front portion of the hunter 54 is its idle stroke,

- In the '71 is interposed engage atooth provided with a block 59 from which proects a pin 60 which .is engaged. with the ifurcated end of an arm61 extending from the sleeve 62 pivotally supported on the feeder-;stand or cover plate thereof. The sleeve ()2 is pivotally mounted upon a bolt 63 extending'upwardly from the feeder stand or cover plate, and the sleeve is normally under the influence of a spring tending to move the hunter 54 rearwardly. In the present instance of the invention, a spring 64 is mounted within the sleeve 62 and has one end secured at 65 to a stationary bolt 66' and the other end secured at 67 to the sleeve, the construction being such that the spring normally tends to rock the sleeve in --a direction to carry the hunter 54 rearwardly. Secured to the sleeve 62 and projecting oppositely to the arm 61 is a cam-carrying arm 68, Figs. 1 and 5, the under surface of which is inclined or cam shaped, as at 69. to afford means for actuating a step-by-step device as the hunter is moved frontwardly by the oil-coming lay during a detecting beat.

Secured to the side of the feeler stand and extending downwardly therefrom is a plate or support 70, Figs. 2 and 5, which affords a convenient means for supporting a part of the step-by-step device, comprising a ratchet wheel and its associated parts. resent instance of the invention, the rate et wheel 71 is mounted upon a shaft 72 extending outwardly from the plate or support 70, and between a housing or cover 73 and the face of the ratchet wheel a spring 74 for preventing too free movement of the ratchet wheelunder the impulse of its operating means, as will presently be described.

Looselymounted on the shaft 72 is a rocker 7 5 from which extends a pawl-carrying arm 76, Figs. 1' and 5. Mounted on the arm 76 is a pawl 77 which is adapted to of the ratchet wheel 71 and step it along as the rocker is rocked in one direction. Projecting from the rocker 7 is a second" arm 78. Figs. 1 and 5', having a projection 79 which is held in the path of movement of the cam surface 69 by means of a spring 80. Figs. 1 and 5, one end of which bears upon a lug 81'exten'ding from the plate or support and the other end of which bears againsta projection 82 carried by the rocker 7 more clearly shown in Fig. 'Whcn the hunter is moved frontwardly by the on-coming lay during a (letecting beat. the inclined surface. 69 will ride rearwardly over the projection 79 and effect a step movement of the ratchet wheel 71, and as the hunter returns to its idle rearward position, the pawl 77 will perform the effect being that on each frontward movement of. the hunter ratchet wheel will he stepped along one or the 1.

morevteeth to rotate the ratchet wheel step by step. I

Pivotally supported on the plate 70 at 83 is an arm 84, the free end portion of which normally rests upon an end of the sheathed wire 52, as indicated in'Fig. 5, and. said arm is provided'with a. projection 85 normally held in the path of movement of a lug or hip 86 carried by the ratchet wheel. engaging portions of the lugs 85 and 86 are such that as the ratchet wheel is stepped along, as hereinhefore described, and the parts 85 and 86 are brought into cooperative relation, the knife-edge portion of the lug 86 will during the frontward movement of the 'la depress the lever 84 and then pass out o engagement therewith on the same heat of the lay, the result being that the trip device will be actuated on a detecting beat .of the lay to first trip the detent and then free it on the sarne beat of the lay.

Since the ratchet wheel and trip device are actuated by the hunter asthe lay moves to or approaches its front position, it follows that the feeler will he released from its holding means or detent when the lay is approaching or at" front center, so that the feeler will engage the filling lightly. Should the feeler at this time detect a working supply of filling in the shuttle when the lay is in or near its front center, the detent will drop rearwardly of the lateral pr0- jection 27 of the feeler, stem, and prevent the feeler from going back with the lay. In other words, the trip device acts momentarily to trip thedetent and then release it, sothat it may at once go into action when the lay is approaching or near front center, and i at this time the feeler detects a working supply of filling in. the shuttle, the detent will again drop into feeler holding'position and prevent rearward movement of the 'feeler, so that during its period of activity when a working supply of filling is in the shuttle,- the feeler does not move to its rearward feeling position.

As the filling is withdrawn from the shuttle during weaving, the diameter of the filling opposite the feeler will diminish until it will not be sufiicient to meet the feeler when the lay is at or near front position unless thefeeler itself moves rearwardly and consequently the feeler, when released by the d'etent, ,will move rearwardly to meet the filling, with the result the feeler will move rearwardly of themcline 4 5 of the detent as soon as the detent trips or frees the feeler, and the feeler will remain in action. During such active" period, which may be. designated a near approach to substantial exhaustion of filling, the usual teeth or end portion of the feeler will engage the filling on each detectin beat and hold the feeler from calling the c ange of filling until the amount of "filling-is no that the end 27 of The leased by "iv to an extent dependent ion geisufficient to hold the i'eeler from movement along the bobbin, whereupon replenishment of filling will be effected.

he housing or cover plate 73 is supported uponthe shaft 72, as hereinbefore stated, and in order to hold it in covering: position, the plate may be provided with a projection 87, Fig. 1, which may be extended into an opening 88 of the cover plate, but any suitable means may be em ployed for this purpose.

From the construction described it will be noted thatthe feeler has periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with thesame supply of fillingin the shuttle, and is released to its periods ofactivity when the lay is, at or near front center, with the result that the feeler moves into light touch ing contact with the filling when a Working supply is present in the shuttle, and since the detent is tripped and immediately released, the teeler is l eld from movement to its rearward position as the lay goes back on the same detecting beat on which it was released. Should, however, the feeler detect a near approach to exhaustion when rethe detent, itwill move rearwardu-pon the amount of depleted filling in the shuttle as the detent moves again to its operative feelerholding position, so that the detent will fail at this time to pass rearwardly of the projection 27 on the detent stem and the t'eeler.

will remain in operative or active position to call for a change of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler. means for holding the feeler in an inoperative position, a trip to free the feeler from the holding means at intervals, as the lay approaches front center and permitting the holding means to again hold the teeler in inoperative position on the same detecting'bsat on which it was released shouldthe. feeler detect a working supply o-t'filline in the Shuttle on that beat. 2. In a feeler mechanism. for looms, the combination of a feelerffmeans for holding the fceler in an inope'r ve': position. means for freeing the feeler' from the holding means as the lay approaches front center that the feeler may contact lightly with the filling and on the same detecting beat per-- mitting the holding means to again hold the feeler in inoperative position should the ieeler detect a working supply of filling in the shuttle on that beat that the feeler may not follow the backward movement of the lay.

In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, means and operating mechanism therefor acting to hold the teeler in a frontward inoperative position and. freeing the 't'eeler at.

should the, feeler detect 1 returning the feeler controllingintervals as the lay approaches i ront center on a detecting beat and upon detection of a I working supply of filling in the shuttle log the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, and controlling means for said device acting to free the feeler from the device at intervals as the lay center on a detecting: beat and returning the holding device into holding relation with the feeler on the same detecting'beat offilling in the shuttle on that beat. n v

In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a device for holdin the feeler in an inoperative position, a trip for freeing the feeler from said device at intervals on a detecting beat and on the same detecting beat when the feeler detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle device into holding relation with the feeler that the latter may not move to IIBHIWHITl feeling position as the lay goes hac r.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a teeler, a device for holdapproachcs fronti a working supply ing the feeler in an inoperative position,.

.detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle returning the device into holding relation with the feeler that the latter may not move to rearward feeling position as the lay goes back.

7. A :teeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a detent for holding the feele r in a frontward inoperative position, al trip for freeing the fceler from the detept at intervals as the lay approaches front center and permitting the detent to re-engrage the feeler on the same detecting beat should the f'eelei detect working supply of filling on that beat to prevent the teeler from moving rearwardly into feeling position as the lay goes back on the same boat.

8. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination a feeler, a detent having a cam tooth to engage and hold the feeler in trontward inoperative position, a trip device for freeing the l eelor at intervals only as the lay approaches front center that the teeler may lightly contact with the filling at or near i'ront center and then passing out of freeing position that the detont may again engage the feelcr before the lay goes back should the feelcr have detected a Working supply of filling in the shuttle.

9, In a. teeler mechanism for looms, the

Combination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity with the same supply of filling1 in the shuttle, means cooper-- ating with e feeler to .hold it in a frontward [inoperative position during its periods of inactivity, a trip for freeing the feeler, and means for operating the trip 'tofree the feeler from its holding means as the lay approaches front centre that the feelermay contact lightly with the filling and on the same detecting beat permitting the feeler holding means to again hold the feeler in frontward positioii should the feeler detect a working amount of filling in the shuttle on that beat.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, thecombination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity-with" the same supthat'the feeler may li htly engage the fill- 1 ing and permit the to re-engage the feeler and hold it frontwardly should the feeler find a working supply of, filling in'the shuttle on the same detecting beat on which it'was released.

'11. In a feeler mechanism for looms the combination of a feeler having periods of position durin eeler 'holding means activity and inactivity with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, means includmg a detent pawl cooperating with the feeler to hold it in a frontward inoperative its periods of inactivity, a

trip device to tee the feeler from the holding means at intervals as the lay reaches front centre constructed and arranged to permit the holding means to .again hold the feeler in inoperative position. on the same detecting'beat on which it was released should the feeler detect a working supply of filling inthe shuttle on that eat and to permit the "feeler toremain active in case near approach to substantiallyexhaustion of filling is detected-on that beat.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination 0!? a 'feelerhaving periods of activityandinactivity with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, 'a'detent to hold the feeler in a frontward inoperative position durin' h its periods of inactivity, a trip for the etent, a hunter. for causing the trip to; release the detent from.,!the feeler only when the lay is'near front center and permit the detent to again engage and hold the feeler on the samede beat to prevent rearwardin the shuttle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. i l I i ovement'of-the, vfeeler when a working supply of filling GEORGE H, f 

